Cisco Joins Dynamic Spectrum Alliance

The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance said Cisco has now joined its ranks, along with Swarm Technologies and UTStarcom.

“The DSA is looking forward to working with Cisco Systems, Swarm Technologies and UTStarcom as we continue to work with governments and regulators around the world to enable more efficient spectrum utilization that will bring better connectivity and promote social and economic inclusion," said DSA chairman Paul Garnett.

Related: C-Band Alliance Gives FCC More Info on Band-Clearing Plan

As the name advertises, the group, whose members already include Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Comcast, has been pushing for more "dynamic" access to "unused" spectrum over traditional market mechanisms like band clearing and auctions, but has been pushing back on the C-Band alliance proposal for clearing and private-market deals over auctions, deals that would lock up spectrum for licensed use rather than more flexible, unlicensed, uses.

"The private sale option raises significant concerns about fairness and efficiency, which the DSA does not believe can be cured by Commission oversight of a private sale," the DSA told the commission in comments on the C-Band proposal. "First, the DSA does not believe that a private sale can provide any assurance or confidence to C-band users, or the public that relies upon their services’ future availability, reliability, or costs. Second, a private sale will not protect the interests of all parties who are interested in acquiring C-band spectrum for flexible use, or the interests of the public in ensuring the sale is conducted in a manner that ensures a competitive market going forward. Third, a private sale would guarantee that U.S. taxpayers would not see any money from the auction of this public asset."

Cable operators and broadcasters are among those incumbents who would be hurt by interference in the band because they use that satellite spectrum for delivery of network programming (broadcast) and programming networks (cable) to stations and cable systems.

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.